VETERINARY 
POST-MORTEM 
EXAMINATIONS 

Clement 


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VETERINARY 


POST-MORTEM 


EXAMINATIONS 


BY 


A.  W.  CLEMENT,  V.S. 


^ 


NEW  YORK 

WILLIAM  R.JENKINS  COo 

publishers 
851-853  Sixth  Avenue 


CoPYKioHT,  1S91,  by  Sabiston  &  Wfukay 

All  rights  reserved 


Printed  by  the 

Press  of  William  K.  Jknkins  Co. 

New  York 


PRETFACE. 


liecords  ot  autopsies,  to  be  of  any  value,  should 
accurately  represent  the  appearances  of  the  tiissues 
and  organs  so  that  a  diagnosis  might  be  made  by 
the  reader  were  not  the  "  examiner's  conclusions 
stated.  To  make  the  pathological  conditions  clear 
to  the  reader,  some  definite  systeTn  of  dJssection  is 
necessary.  The  absence  in  the  English  language, 
of  any  guide  in  making  autopsies  upon  the  lower 
animals,  induced  the  writer  to  contribute  an  article 
upon  this  subject  to  the  "Keference  Handbook  of 
the  Medical  Sciences."  Volume  VII.  1888.  That 
it  may  be  of  more  i)ra,cti(;al  value  to  the  i)rofession 
I  have  decided  to  publish  it  in  bo'^;v  form. 

A.  W.  C. 


Veterinary 

^^osT"  Mortem  Examinations. 


The  general  inetliod  of  making  pest-mortem  ex- 
aminations on  animals  is  similar  tc>  that  followed  in 
human  autopsies.  Yet  the  difierenees  in  the  size  of 
the  organs,  together  with  some  differences  in  the 
anatomy,  make  certain  special  j)rocedures  necessary. 

The  supevo-inferior  greatly  exceeds  the  lateral 
diameter  of  the  chest  in  all  four-footed  animals. 
The  supraspinous  processes  are  greatly  developed 
and  the  muscles  which  attach  the  limbs  to  the  trunk 
are  short  and  thick,  bringing  the  scai)ula  and  luv 
merus  close  to  the  chest  and  the  femur  close  to  the 
posterior  i)art  of  the  abdomen  (see  Fig.  1.)  The 
shape  of  the  thorax,  therefore,  together  with  the  way 
in  which  the  legs  are  attached  to  the  body,  make  it 
impossible  to  kee])  the  animal  upon  its  back  without 


i\        VRTETHNARY    I'OS  r-MOU'TKM   EXAMINATIONS, 

soiiio  sui)i)orr,  or  without  loosening"  the  musciihir 
attachments;  mjkI,  in  the  larjier  animals,  even  the 
loosening"  of  these  mnscnlar  attachments  will  not 
keep  the  body  ])erfeetly  well  balanced. 

In  the  smaller  animals  division  of  the  pectoral 
muscles,  allowing  tlie  fore  limbs  to  lie  l^at  u])on  the 
table,  and  of  the  adductors  of  the  tliigh,  allowing 
the  hind  limbs  to  fall  outward,  will  be  found  suiii- 
cientto  keep  the  body  flat  upon  its  back  (see  Tig.  2). 

For  the  larger  animals,  however,  especial  arrange- 
ments have  been  devised  for  holding  them  in  place, 
and,  though  too  elaborate  for  field-work,  they  can  be 
made  practicable  in  the  city,  where  many  dead  ani- 
mals are  taken  to  one  place.  The  methods  here  de- 
scribed will  be  based  upon  the  supposition  that  the 
operator  has  appropriate  arrangements  at  his  dis- 
posal, and  such  substitutions  as  are  necessary  for 
ordinary  field-work  will  be  mentioned  afterward. 
The  horse  will  be  taken  as  the  type,  and,  unless 
otherwise  mentione;!,  tlie  description  refers  to  that 
animal.  Especial  attention  should  be  given  to  de- 
termining the  presence  of  Entozoa  as  they  are  apt 
to  be  overlooked  and  often  give  rise  to  serious 
trouble  and  may  cause  death. 

The  Horse. — It  is  always  better  to  have  an  ani- 
mal on  its  back  than  on  its  side.  It  is  also  better  to 
have  the  body  on  a  platform  so  high  that  the  opera- 


VETERINARY  POST-MORTEM   EXAMINATIONS.         i 

tor  oau  Tvoik  conveniently.  It  is,  moreover,  desirable 
to  liave  the  platform  movable,  so  that  the  position 
of  the  body  may  l)e  changed  at  will. 

For  the  above  purpose  a  carriage  or  truck,  similar 
to  that  used  by  railroad  porters,  may  be  made  (see 
Fig.  3).  This  truck  should  be  about  eight  feet  long- 
by  three  feet  wide;  the  platform  should  be  about 
two  feet  from  the  ground,  and  above  the  top  of  the 
four  wheels  which  must  support  it.  Iron  sockets 
should  be  placed  near  the  edge  of  the  platforin,  and 
sunk  into  the  wood  so  that  the  top  will  come  even 
with  the  tioor  of  the  i)latform.  These  sockets  must 
be  so  placed  that  they  will  come  opi)osite  each  of 
the  four  limbs.  They  should  be  of  just  the  right 
size  to  allow  the  uprights  to  tit  into  them.  These 
uprights  should  be  iron  bars  about  four  feet  long" 
and  one  inch  thick.  They  should  have  a  shepherd's 
crook  on  the  end,  to  which  the  cords  which  hold  the 
legs  in  place  may  be  secured.  These  bars  should 
fit  loosely  into  the  sockets,  so  that  they  can  be  re- 
moved easily  at  any  time. 

The  animal  can  be  hoisted  on  to  the  truck  by 
means  of  a  Yale  pulley.  When  placed  in  position, 
the  iron  bars  can  be  put  in  and  the  legs  secured  to 
them,  as  shown  in  Fig.  3.  Everything'  is  now  readj'. 
The  animal  is  in  position,  the  instruments  are  sharp- 
ened, and  buckets  of  clean  water  and  sponges  are  at 


8        VETERINARY   POST-MORTEM   EXAMINATIONS. 


hand.  Tlic  liist  inooeduro  i.s  to  make  a  general  in- 
spection of  tlic  animal:  1,  As  to  colcu-;  2,  sex;  3,  age; 
4,  weight;  5,  general  eonditiou;  6,  condition  of  abdo- 
men, whetlier  mucii  distended  or  not;  7,  any  abnorm- 
al appearances  about  the  skin,  such  as  scars,  abras- 
ions of  the  surface,  evidence  of  having  been  blistered, 


Pro.  1.— Skoloton  of  a  Hoi'irO,  ^^}K)wiiii,'  llie  Shapo  of  llio  Tlioracic  Cavity. 


or  of  the  actual  cautery  having  been  applied. 
Ectoza,  Lice,  Ova  of  dii)tera,  Mange,  Ectophyte, 
Ringworm;  8,  any  abnormal  prominences  or  dei)ress- 
ions;  9,  condition  of  the  hoofs;  in  short,  any  abnormal 
appearances  striking  enough  to  be  evident  to  the 
eye  on  general  insi)ectiou. 


VETERINARY  POST-MORTEM  EXAMINATIONS.         9 

The  general  iuspectioii  having  been  completed,  a 
special  inspection  of  the  exterior  shoiild  now  be  made 
to  determine:  1,  The  condition  of  the  visible  mucous 
membranes;  2,  the  condition  of  the  glands  in  the 
submaxillary  region,  and  in  the  x)arotid,  axillary,  and 
inguinal  regions;  3,  the  condition  of  the  skin  over 
the  jugular  vein  about  midway  of  the  neck  (any  cic- 
atricial tissue  giving  evidence  of  the  animal  ever 
having  been  bled);  4,  any  prominences  on  the  limbs 
— in  short,  any  i)athological  conditions  which  can  be 
made  out  by  the  eye  or  finger  before  any  cutting  has 
been  done.  The  above  inspection  has  generally  to 
be  made  before  the  animal  has  been  placed  upon  the 
truck,  as  the  hide  is  saved  by  those  who  dispose  of 
the  animal.* 

After  this  inspection  an  incision  through  the  skin 
over  the  sternum  is  to  be  made.  In  human  autopsies 
the  knife,  firmly  grasped  in  the  right  hand,  is  drawn 
toward  the  operators  body,  and  the  primary  incision, 
begun  at  the  chin,  is  carried  to  the  pubis.  In  the 
lower  animals,  on  account  of  the  hair  and  dirt,  such 
a  procedure  would  take  the  edge  otit"  the  knife;  con- 
sequently it  is  better  to  adopt  the  method  used  by 
butchers,  of  making  a  small  incision  in  the  skin  along 
the  metlian  line,  then  inserting  the  knife  under  the 

*If  the  hide  is  saveil,  it  is  removed  by  the  kiiai-ker  or  butcher  before  the 
animal  is  placed  ou  t)ie  truck.  It  is  an  advantage  lo  have  the  hide  first 
removed. 


10     VETERINARY  POST-MORTEM  EXAMINATIONS. 

i^kiii,  cuttiii.u'  upward  tliroiiiih  the  skin,  aii'l  away 
froni,  instead  of  toM  ards  one's  self.  The  incision  nrast 
extend frotn.  the  mouth  to  the  ((/ins,  ])assing"  to  the  right 
(^f  the  i)eiiis  aud  testicles  iu  the  male  and  between 
the  mauinite  iu  the  female.  A  seeond  iiieision,  l»e>;un 
just  in  front  of  the  i)enis,  should  be  carried  to  the 
anus,  passing'  to  the  left  of  the  penis.  Jniisions 
through  the  skin  should  be  made  transversely  to 
tiiis  longitudinal  incision  from  the  middle  of  tlio 
pubis  along  the  inside  of  the  thighs  nearly  to  the 
hocks,  aiulfrom  the  middle  of  tlu'  sternum,  along  the 
inside  of  the  forelegs,  nearly  to  the  carpus.  The 
skin  should  then  be  cut  around  the  legs  at  the  end 
of  tlie  last  incisions,  and  the  skin  taken  oft'fronj  this. 
])art  of  the  legs,  from  the  trunk  and  from  over  the 
trachea  and  lower  jaw.  Just  beneath  the  skin  arti 
often  found  the  larvae  of  dii)t(U'a  in  various  animals. 
es])ecially  in  cattle.  The  pejiis  should  then  l)e  ex- 
amined aiul  dissected  back,  allowing  it  to  fall  over 
tlu'  perineum.  The  mammae  should  be  examined  and 
excised  if  the  animal  be  a  female. 

The  abdoniinal  nmscle-s  and  the  peritoneto//  may  now 
be  cut  through  from  the  sternum  to  the  i)ubis,  caro 
being  taken  not  to  wound  the  intestiiu's  in  tiio 
operation.  About  midway  of  the  abdomen  the  mus- 
cles and  peritoneum  should  be  divided  transversely, 
the  cut  extending  to  the  false   libs  on  cither  side. 


VETERINARY  POST-MORTEM  EXAMINATIONS.      U 


i'lG.  2.— Pust-murteui  Exumiiiali./a  ou  a  Small  Auimal. 


12     VETERINARY  POST-MORTEM  EXAMINATIONS. 

The  flaps  so  made  should  be  hdd  over  on  the  chest 
and  on  the  flanks,  and  euts  should  be  made  in  the 
muscle  crosswise,  so  that  tlu^  flaps  will  lit'  flat  (see 
Fig.  3,  c).  While  making  the  transverse  section  of 
the  abdominal  Avail  any  abnormal  contents  of  the 
peritoneal  cavity  should  be  noted,  together  with  the 
character  of  such  contents;  also  the  condition  of  the 
peritoneum  itself,  and,  in  a  general  way,  of  the  intes- 
tines. 

In  making  autopsies  on  the  human  subject  most 
precise  directions  are  given  to  open  the  abdomen 
first,  and  to  examine  the  contents  without  removing 
any  organs;  then  to  carefully  ascertain  the  position 
of  the  diaphragm  and  to  open  the  thorax  and  proceed 
with  the  dissection  of  the  organs  therein  contained. 
On  account  of  the  bulkiuess  and  intricacy  of  the  in- 
testines in  the  horse,  it  is  well  to  remove  them  as 
soon  as  possible,  else  they  will  become  involved  in 
arrangement  so  as  to  make  it  diflicult  to  straighten 
them  out.  It  is  therefore  better  first  to  dissect  the 
large  intestine,  and  the  small  intestine  as  far  as  the 
duodenum,  in  the  horse,  and  in  cattle  to  remove  the 
stomachs  as  well;  then  to  open  the  thorax  and  to  re- 
move the  organs  therein  contained,  and  afterward 
to  go  back  and  finish  the  abdomen. 

In  the  smaller  animals,  such  as  dogs,  cats,  pigs, 
etc.,  the  intestines  do  not  interfere,  and  the  proced- 


VETEitlNARY  POST-MORTEM  EXAMINATIONS.      V6 

ure  may  be  that  folloM'eil  in  human  post-mortem  ex- 
aminations, so  far  as  the  order  of  the  removal  of  the 
organs  is  concerned  (see  Fig.  2). 
We  have  now  made  a  general   inspection  of  the 


Fig.  3. — Truck  for  Post-mortem  Examinations,    a,  Double  colon; 
6,  small  iutestiue;  c,  ctecum. 

animal,  noted  its  color,  sex,  age,  and  weight,  together 
with  any  abnormal  appearances  of  the  exterior.  We 
have  directed  how  the  primary  section  should  be 
made,  and  which  part  should  be  dis.seeted  first,  and 


14      VETERINARY   TOST-MORTEM   EXAMINATIONS^, 

why.  The  abdomen  lias  been  exposed  and  any  ab- 
normal contents  have  been  noted,  together  with  any 
abnormal  condition  of  the  ])eritoneiini.  We  are  now 
ready  to  begin  the  dissection  ol"  t!ie  intestines. 

For  convenience  of  <lescrii)tion  the  abdominal  cav- 
ity is  divided  into  several  areas;  these  divisions  are 
arbitrary,  and  anatomists  do  not  all  ajj^ree  as  to  how 
they  should  be  made.  The  one  most  generally 
adopted  in  the  schools  in  England  and  America,  and 
which  is  probably  the  simplest,  is  the  following,  tak- 
en from  McFadyean's  "Aiiat<miy  of  the  Horse'' 
(Edinburgh  and  London,  1884).  • 

Two  transverse  planes  divide  the  cavity  into  three 
regions,  then  two  longitu<linal  planes  subdivide  each 
of  these  regions  into  three  parts.  The  iirst  trans- 
verse plane  passes  through  the  lower  end  of  the  fif- 
teenth rib.  The  second  passes  throngh  the  external 
angle  of  the  ilium  on  either  side;.  The  two  i)arallel 
longitudinal  planes  extend  from  the  pelvis  to  the 
sternum,  passing  throngh  the  centre  of  Poupart's 
ligament  on  either  side.  The  regions  thus  formed 
are,  between  the  diaphragm  and  tlie  transverse  i)lane 
passing  through  tlie  tilteenth  rib,  the  left  hypochon- 
driac, epigastric,  and  right  hypochondriac;  in  the 
region  between  the  above  i)lane  and  the  transverse 
plane  which  passes  through  the  angle  of  the  ilium, 
the  left  lumbar,  umbilical,  and  right  lumbar.    The 


VETERINARY   ruST-:.l()RTEM   EXAMINATIONS.       15 

regions  posterior  to  the  plane  passing-  through  the 
angles  of  the  haunch  are  the  left  iliac,  hyi)ogastric, 
ami  right  iliac. 

The  first  part  of  the  intestine  to  be  manipulated  is 
the  large  or  double  colon.  It  starts  from  the  Ci^cura  in 
the  right  hypochondriac  region,  passes  forward  to 
the  diaphragm,  wnere  it  turns  u])on  itself,  forming 
the  sui)rasternal  flexure.  It  then  passes  back  to  the 
pelvic  cavity  and  there  turns  again,  forming  the  pel- 
vic flexure,  whence  it  passes  forward  to  the  epigast- 
rium, forming  a  third  flexure — the  diaphragmatic  or 
gastrohepatic,  which  is  in  contact  with  the  dia- 
lihragm  and  liver.  It  tlien  passes  back  to  the  base 
of  the  ca?cum,  to  which  it  is  attached,  and,  becoming 
suddenly  smaller,  passes  on  as  the  floating  colon. 
The  first  and  fourth  and  the  second  and  third 
portions  are  attached  to  each  other  at  the  sides; 
otherwise  the  gut  is  free  from  the  time  it  leaves  the 
csecum  until  it  terminates  in  the  floating  colon,  at 
which  point,  as  mentioned  above,  it  is  attached  by 
cellular  tissue  to  the  base  of  the  ctecum  and  to  the 
pancreas. 

It  will  be  seen  that  the  free  extremity  of  the 
double  colon  is  at  the  pelvic  flexure.  This  extrem- 
ity must  be  grasped  firmly  with  the  hands  and  car- 
ried forward  so  as  to  obliterate  the  suprasternal  and 
diaphragmatic  flexures  and  allowed  to  fall  with  the 


1()      VK'I'KRINARY   POST-MORTEM    EXAMINATIONS*. 

CJBCum  on  tlic-  rigi.t  of  tlie  body,  as  far  forward 
as  possible,  so  as  to  be  out  of  tlie  way  of  the 
operator.    Tlie  oi)erator,  standing  on  the  ri«;ht  of  the 


Fia.  4.— Horse,  showing  Rectd-duodeual  Lii'ameiit.      a,  Ligature  around 
rectum;  0,  ligatui-e  arouud  duodenum. 

animal,  should  now  pull  out  the  small  intes- 
tines, allowing  them  to  fall  over  the  platform,  at- 
tached by  the  mesentery  (see  Fig.  3,  b).  The  mesen- 
teric arteries  should  then  be  examined  by  manipu- 
iation  to  determine  the  i^resence  or  absence  of  Aue- 


VETEEINARY  roST-MOKTEM   EXAMINATIONS.       \i 

urisms  of  tliese  vessels,  usually  veromiiions.  He 
should  thou  o'o  to  tlie  left  side  of  the  animal,  and, 
beginning  uoar  the  anus,  pull  out  the  rectum  and 
floating  eolou  on  that  side  (see  Fig.  4).  The  recto- 
duodenal  ligament  vnll  iioro  he  exposed  to  view,  and  this 
indicates  the  situation  where  ligatures  are  to  he  applied 
to  the  intestine.  One  ligature  is  placed  around  the 
rectum  near  the  corresponding  extremity  of  this  liga- 
ment (at  rt,  in  Fig.  4).  Another  ligature,  h,  is  passed 
around  the  duodenum  just  at  the  beginning  of  the 
jejunum;  i.  e.,  at  the  insertion  of  the  above  named 
ligament.  The  gut  is  cut  through  at  this  point,  and 
the  jejunmu  and  Hewn  are  dissected  from  the  mesentery, 
and,  after  being  ligatured  at  the  cfecum,  cut  through 
{b.  in  Fig.  5),  and  allowed  to  fall  to  the  floor  or  in- 
to a  receptacle  placed  there.  The  operator  now 
excises  the  rectum,  as  near  to  the  anus  as  possible, 
and  dissects  forward  until  he  comes  to  the  ligature 
{a,  Fig.  5),  where  he  cuts  the  gut  through  and  al- 
lows it  to  fall. 

The  next  procedure  is  to  free  the  ccecum,  doid)le 
colon,  and  what  remains  of  the  floating  colon  from 
their  attachments.  This  is  easily  done  by  detaching 
the  loose  cellular  tissue  with  the  Angers  and  by  cut- 
ting the  strong  bands  of  peritoneum,  the  meso-ctBcal 
ligaments— by  which  the  csecum  is  attached  to  the 
sublumbar  region  and  to  the  colon  at  its  origin — and 


18      VETERINARY    PoST-MOUTEM   EX.AMINA  I'lONS. 

the  cellular  tissue  which  Jitta(;hes  the  douhle  colon 
to  the  pancreas  and  to  the  wall  of  tlie  abdomen. 
The  attachments  havini^  been  severed,  the  ca'cum 
and  colon  are  iiUowed  to  fall  to  the  flooi'. 

Now  that  the  intestines  have  been  removed,  it  is 
better  to  open  the  thorax  andn-emove  the  organs,  as 
this  cavity  sliould  be  examined  before  the  Irver  is 
removed.  If  it  is  attem])ted  to  remove  the  liver  lirst, 
there  is  danger  of  wounding  the  diaphragm,  and 
there  is  also  a  dissagreeablo  escape  of  blood  from  the 
severed  vessels.  Moreover  if  the  organs  in  the 
thorax  have  been  removed,  the  dia|)liragm  may  be 
freed  from  its  attachments  to  the  ribs,  and,  together 
with  the  liver,  may  be  allowed  to  fall  forward  into 
the  thoracic  cavity,  thus  giving  more  room  to  work 
at  the  other  organs. 

Before  opening  the  thorax  the  pectoral  muscles 
should  be  divided,  care  being  taken  not  to  wound 
the  main  blood  vessels  in  the  axilla.  The  cords  at- 
taching the  fore  legs  to  the  iron  bars  may  then  be 
loosened,  allowing  the  legs  to  fall  outward,  and  giv- 
ing the  operator  a  chance  to  make  a  larger  opening 
into  the  chest.  This  having  been  done,  the  muscle 
remaining  attached  to  the  sternum  should  be  re- 
moved, and  the  ribs  sawn  through  tar  enough  from 
the  sternum  on  either  side  to  altbrd  sufficient  room 
to  examine  tlie  thoracic  cavitj  and  to  remove  tlie 


VETEKIXAKY   POST-MOKTEM   EXAMINATIONS.       19 

organs  (see  Fig.  0).  Tlie  ribs  having  been  sawn 
through,  the  diapliragm  should  be  freed  from  its  at- 
tachments to  the  sternum,   the  intercostal  muscles 


Fig.  5.— Abdominal  Viscera  of  the  Horse,    a,  Rectiim,  and  h,  ileum, 
ligatured  and  excised;  c,  stomach;  d,  spieeu;  e,  liver;/,  pancreas. 

divided,  and  the  tissues  over  the  pericardium  dis- 
sected as  close  to  the  sternum  as  possible.  The 
sternum  having  been  removed,  any  abnormal  con- 
tents of  the  pleural  cavity  must  be  noted.  Adhes- 
ions should  be  sought  for.     The  pericardium  is  then 


20      VETERINARY   I'Ot^T-MOKTEM   EXAMINATIONS. 

to  Ix'  opf-iie<l,  l)0<iiuiiini;'  tlie  incision  at  the  base  of 
tliis  sae  and  extending?  it  far  enou<;li  to  see  wlietiier 
there  is  any  tiuid  present  o-^  'Ot.  If  tlu're  is  fluid 
present,  it  should  be  mea'sured  as  accurately  as  poss- 
ible. The  incision  is  to  be  extended  toward  the 
base  of  the  heart  as  far  as  possible,  and  any  abnorm- 
al condition  of  the  epicardiuni  and  i)ericardium 
should  be  noted. 

The  heart  is  now  to  be  examined.  Plaice:  1.  An 
incision  into  the  right  auricle  from  the  anterior  vena 
cava  to  th(^  auri(;ulo- ventricular  sulcus,  and  remove 
and  examine  the  blood  in  the  right  auricle. 

2.  Make  an  incision  along  the  right  border  of  the 
right  ventricle  (or  of  the  heart),  beginning  just  be- 
low the  auriculo-ventricular  sulcus  and  continuing 
to  the  apex  of  the  right  ventricle.  The  auriculo- 
ventricular  sulcus  is  tlierefore  left  intact  between 
the  two  incisions.  Kemove  and  examine  the  blood 
in  the  ventricle. 

3.  Make  an  incision  in  the  left  auricle,  be-ginning 
between  the  pulmonary  veins  and  continuing  to  the 
auriculo-ventricular  sulcus,  llemove  and  examine 
the  blood  in  the  left  auricle. 

4.  Make  an  incision  along  the  left  border  of  the 
heart,  beginning  below  the  left  auriculo-ventricular 
sulcus  and  continuing  to  the  apex.  Eemove  and  ex- 
amine the  blood  in  the  left  ventricle. 


VETEIII>\VKY  rOST-HORTE:M  EXAMINATIONS.      21 


Fm.  ('.— a.  He;;rt:  6,  lung;  c,  diaphragm;  d,  liver;  e,  stomacu;  ^,  spieeu. 


22     VETERINARY  POST-MORTEM  EXAMINATIONS. 

5.  Insert  the  tliuiiib  and  liiij^eis  into  the  incisions 
so  as  to  grasj)  the  heart  lirnily  by  the  septum  near 
the  apex,  and  by  broad  sweeps  of  the  knife  cut  the 
veins,  arieries,  etc.,  so  as  to  remove  the  heart  iVom 
the  chest,  dividing  the  vessels  at  a  good  distance 
from  the  heart. 

6.  Make  an  incis-on  close  to,  and  parallel  with  the 
septum,  into  the  right  ventricle  on  its  anterior  sur- 
face, the  incision  extending  from  the  ai)ex,  Avhere  it 
meets  a  previous  incision,  into  the  pulmonary  artery. 
Examine  the  pulmonary  valves  and  the  parts  ex- 
X)osed. 

7.  Connect  the  incision  aiong  the  riglit  border  of 
the  heart  with  that  in  the  right  auricle,  by  dividing 
the  intervening  part  of  the  auriculo-vejitricular  sul- 
cus.    This  exposes  the  tricusi)id  valve. 

8.  Make  an  incision  on  the  anterior  surface,  close 
to  and  parallel  with  tlie  septum,  into  the  left  ventricle, 
the  incision  extending  from  tlie  ai)ex,  where  it  meets 
a  previous  incision,  into  the  aorta.  This  incision  ex- 
poses the  aortic  valves  and  the  interior  of  the  left 
ventricle. 

9.  Connect  the  incision  along  tlie  left  border  of  the 
heari;  Aviiii  that  in  the  left  auricle,  by  dividing  tlie 
Jnter^'eniuii"  Dart  of  the  auriculo-ventricular  sulcus. 
This  incision  exposes  the  mitral  valve.  Thu  incisions 
into  the  ventricles  make,  therefore,  triangular  ll:ii)S. 


VETEKIXAEY  rOST-MOETE3r  EXAMINATIONS.       23 

PerliaiiG  a  simpler  method  of  examining  the  heart 
is  that  lecommeudeil  by  Dr.  Johnston  of  Montreal, 
Canada,  in  his  "SyUabus  of  Tost  Mortem  Methods." 
This  method  applies  to  the  heart  after  it  has  been 
removed  from  the  chest  without  havin;^-  made  any 
incisions  in  the  organ  in  situ.  The  organ  in  the 
larger  animals  is  so  bulky,  however,  as  to  retiuire 
great  care  not  to  cut  the  vessels  so  near  the  heart 
as  to  Avound  the  valves,  if  this  method  be  employed. 
It  is  as  follows: 

Tlie  heart  having  been  removeeLfrom  tlie  body,  any 
abnormality  in  general  appearance  must  be  noted; 
also  the  condition  of  the  epicardiuui  and  the  size  of 
the  organ.  Open  and  examine,  the  canities  of  the  hearty 
following  the  order  of  the  circulation — right  auricle; 
right  ventricle;  left  auricle;  left  ventricle.  The  in- 
cisions are  best  made  with  the*  large  probe-i)ointe"d 
scissors  used  for  opening  the  intestines. 

"I.  Open  the  right  auricle  by  cutting  from  the  sup- 
erior to  the  inferior  vena  cava." 

"II.  l*ass  the  probe-pointed  scissors  down  the  pul- 
monary artery  and  into  the  right  ventricle  and  open 
it  by  an  incision,  passing  between  the  segments  of 
the  ]»ulmonary  valve  and  extended  to  the  apex, 
keei)ing  just  to  the  right  of  the  SL'ptum.  Examine 
carefully  the  cavity  of  the  ventricle  airl  the  Aalves 
before  proceeding  further." 


24     VETEEINARY  POST-MORTEM  EXAMINATIONS. 

"III.  Pi^.ss  the  probe-pointed  blade  of  the  scissors 
througli  tlie  tncusi)id  orifice,  and  cnt  across  the  face 
of  the  tricuspid  valve,  extending  the  incision  to  the 
apex  of  the  right  ventricle,  along  the  right  border  of 
the  heart." 

The  left  chambers  are  examined  in  a  corresponding 
manner. 

"IV.  Slit  open  the  left  auricle  where  the  i)ulmon- 
ary  A'eins  enter." 

"V.  Pass  the  scissors  down  the  aorta  into  the  left 
ventricle,  draAving  the  i)ulmonary  artery  over  to  the 
right  so  as  not  to  wound  it,  and  cut  behind  it  along 
the  lel't  side  of  the  se})tura  as  far  as  the  apex.  As 
one  of  the  aortic  cusps  lies  directly  in  the  track  of 
this  incision  it  is  difficult  to  avoid  injuring  it.  Ex- 
amine the  interior  of  the  ventricle  and  the  valves  be- 
fore making  the  next  incision." 

^'VI.  j\Iake  an  incision  from  the  left  auricle  to  the 
ai)ex  of  the  left  ventricle,  passing  the  probe-pointed 
blade  of  the  scissors  through  tlie  mitral  oritice,  and 
cutting  along  the  left  border  of  the  heart." 

In  a  medium  sized  horse  the  larger  axis  of  the 
heart  is  about  10|  inches;  its  antero-i)osten(>  diam- 
eter, measured  near  the  base,  is  eiiiiivaU'nt  to  T.^  in- 
ches ;  its  lateral  diameter  di)es  not  exceed  from  5  to  5| 
inches.  The  average  weight  is  about  (>f  lbs.  The 
pericardium     should    now    l»e    rem-.tvel    from    the 


VETERINARY  POST-MORTEM  EXAMINATlO>JS.      25 

thorax,  ami  the  bronchial  lymphatic  glands  examined 
in  situ,  so  far  as  possible. 

After  cutting  through  the  trachea  at  its  bifurca- 
tion, each  hcnr/  musf  be  removed  .separately.  The 
pulmonary  and  costal  plune  must  be  examined.  Tlie 
lung  must  be  pressed  upon  to  see  whether  it  crepi- 
tates or  not.  Several  incisions  should  then  be  made 
lengthwise  in  the  organ,  in  order  to  determine 
whether  there  are  areas  of  consolidation  or  other  ab- 
normalities. The  lungs  of  the  horse  are  so  large 
that  one  is  likely  to  overlook  a  small  x)atch  of 
pneumonia,  unless  many  sections  are  made.  The 
bronchi  should  be  laiil  open,  and  the  presence  of 
mucous  or  other  abnormalities  noted.  The  pulmon- 
iiry  vessels  can  also  be  dissected  out. 

The  contents  of  the  thorax  having  been  examined, 
we  now  return  to  the  abdot?ien.  It  will  be  remem- 
bered that  we  have  left  in  situ  the  liver,  spleen> 
stomach,  duodenum,  pancreas,  kidneys,  suprarenal 
capsules,  and  the  geuito-urinary  apparatus,  together 
with  the  great  blood  vessels  and  the  mesentery. 

311ie  diaphragyn  should  be  cut  down  on  either  side 
close  to  the  ribs  so  as  to  allow  the  liver  to  fall  over 
into  the  thoracic  cavitj'. 

The  sjyleen  should  now  be  removed.  It  lies  close 
to  the  side  of  the  stomach.  Its  normal  weight  in  the 
horse  is  about  thirty-two  ounces.    It  is  attached  bv 


26     VETERINARY  POST-MORTEM  EXAMINATIONS. 

the  sUvSpcasory  li<Tfameiit  to  tlio  anterior  border  of  the 
left  kidney  and  to  the  snblninbarwall,  and  by  the 
jj^astro-splenic  omentum  to  the  greater  curvature  of 
the  stomacli.  The  anterior  extremity  is  tliicker  than 
the  ])osterior,  and  is  channelled  by  a  slig'ht  loni;itud- 
inal  tissure  which  lodges  the  splenic  vessels  and 
nerves. 

The  spleen  having  been  removed  and  excised,  the 
next  procedure  is  to  dissect  away  the  loose  fold  of 
omentum  attached  to  tlie  stomac-h.    Tiiis  sliows  the 
pancreas  in  its  relation   with  the  stomach   and  Icid 
neys. 

The  pancreas  weighs  about  »seventeen  ounces  and 
is  somewhat  triangular  in  sliape;  it  lies  behind  the 
liver  and  stomach,  in  frontof  the  aorta  and  posterior 
vena  cava,  and  has  an  oi)ening — tlie  jKiiu-rcMitic 
ring — 'V)r  the  passage  of  tlieportal  vein.  Its  princi 
pal  excretory  duct,  tlie  duct  of  Wirsuag,  leaves  the 
organ  by  two  or  three  branches  which  soon  unite, 
and  tlie  main  trunk  enters  tlie  ductus  choledochus. 
The  accessary  pancreatic  duct  ojtens  into  the 
duodenum  opposite  the  duct  of  Wirsung. 

The  duodemtm  should  now  be  opened,  starting  on 
the  side  corresponding  to  the  mesenteric  attachmi'nt, 
then  cutting  across  to  the  other  side  before  tlie  open- 
ing of  the  bile-duct  is  reached,  and  continuing  the 
incision  to  the  stomach.    The  bile-duct  should  now 


VETERINAIir  roBT-MORTEM  ElAJIlNATIONS.     21 

be  exumiiied  to  see  wlietlier  it  is  i^ervious  or  not. 

The  attachments  of  the  pancreas,  which  are  chiefly 
loose  cellular  tissue,  may  now  be  broken  down  with 
the  finger,  the  ducts  and  vessels  cut  across,  and  the 
pancreas  removed  and  examined. 

The  duodenum  aiul  stomach  may  now  be  removed 
from  the  body.  Tlie  incision  along  the  duodenum 
should  be  continued  along-  the  greater  curvature  of 
the  stomach  to  the  a^sophagus,  the  contents  of  the 
Gtomach  removed  and  the  walls  examined. 

The  stomach  of  the  horse,  though  classified  as 
;,im])le,  is  nevertheless  divided  into  two  parts,  be- 
tween which  there  is  an  abrujit  line  of  separation. 
The  left  half  is  iiale  in  color  and  the  epithelial  lin- 
ing is  of  the  pavement  variety,  being"  a  direct  con- 
linuation  of  that  lining'  the  (esophagus.  The  right 
half  of  the  stomach  is  the  true  digestive  part ;  the 
lining  is  very  red,  and  the  epithelium  is  of  the 
columnar  variety.  What  are  termed  bots — l.  e.,  the 
JarviB  of  the  CEstrus  equi — are  often  seen  in  the 
stomach  and  by  many  are  sui)j)osed  to  be  a  very 
common  cause  of  disease.  They  are  not  believed 
by  veterinarians,  however,  to  be  of  any  consequence 
in  this  regard. 

The  kidneys  should  be  removed  next.  They  are 
situated  on  either  side  of  the  vertebral  column,  in 
the  right  and  left  lumbar  regions,  the  right  kidney 


28     VETERTNABY  POST-MORTEM  EXAMINATIONS. 

being-  n  little  more  anterior  than  the  left.  These 
organs,  in  the  horse,  have  essentially  the  same  shape 
as  in  man.  The  right  is  heavier  in  horses,  its  weight 
being  about  twenty-seven  ounces,  Avliile  the  left 
weighs  twenty-five  ounces.  This  is  <  xactly  the 
opposite  of  Avhat  is  seen  in  man,  in  whom  the  left 
kidney  is  larger  and  heavier  than  the  right. 

The  kidneys  having  been  removed  from  the 
body,  they  should  be  laid  upon  the  table  or  a 
support  of  some  sort,  in  order  to  make  a  proj^er  sec- 
tion. To  do  this,  place  the  palm  of  the  left  hand 
upon  the  organ,  then  with  a  large,  flat-bladed  knife, 
held  in  the  right  hand,  cut  along  the  convex  I)order, 
at  the  same  time  turning  the  kidney  with  the  left 
hand  toward  the  knife.  The  section  should  be 
continued  through  the  organ  into  the  pelvis  of  the 
kidney.  See  if  the  capsule  is  of  normal  thickness 
and  easily  removed.  When  we  examine  the  cut 
surface  of  the  kidney  it  will  be  seen  that  the  arrange- 
ment differs  somewhat  from  that  seen  in  man,  in  that 
in  the  horse  there  is  no  division  into  separate 
pyramids,  the  striie  starting  from  every  part  of  its 
exterior  and  converging  toward  the  common  pyra- 
mid. 

The  suprarenal  capsules,  which  can  be  removed 
either  now  or  in  connection  with  the  kidneys,  are 
two  in  number,  and  placed  on  the  median  border  and 


VETERINARY  TOST-MORTEM  EXAMINATIONS.      29 

anterior  extremity  of  each  kidney.  They  are  flat- 
tened, and  measure  about  two  and  one-half  inches  in 
length  by  one  and  one-half  inch  in  breadth,  the  right 
being"  somewhat  larger  than  the  left,  corresponding 
to  the  difiterence  in  size  of  the  kidneys. 

Before  removing  the  organs  in  the  jydvic  cavity  it  is 
necessary  to  saw  thrpngh  the  symphysis  inibis  (as 
shown  in  Figs,  3  and  5);  then,  by  loosening  the  cords 
attaching  the  hind  legs  to  the  iron  rods,  the  pubic 
bones  Avill  separate,  leaving  an  opening  large  enough 
for  the  operator  to  insert  his  hand.  The  organs  may 
then  be  removed  en  viasse  and  dissected  outside  the 
body. 

The  liver  in  a  medium-sized  horse  weighs  about 
eleven  i)onnds.  ■  It  has  three  lobes:  the  right;  with 
a  small  appendix,  the  lobus  Spigelii;  the  left,  which 
is  largest;  and  the  middle  lobe,  which  is  divided  in- 
to several  lobules.  This  organ  must  be  removed  by 
dividing  the  ligaments  which  attach  it  to  the 
diaphragm  (or  it  may  be  conveniently  removed  in 
connection  with  the  diaphragm),  and  then  dividing 
the  blood  vessels  which  enter  ^'t.  It  may  be  noted 
that  there  is  no  gall-bladder  in  the  horse,  the  flow  of 
bile  into  the  duodenum  being  constant.  The  liver 
having  been  removed,  the  capsule  covering  it  should 
be  examined;  then  the  substance  of  the  organ  may 
be  exx)osed  by  many  cuts  in  diflercut  directions. 


30     VETERINARY  POST-MORTEM  EXAMINATIONS. 

iS^ext  remove  the  dhtphragm  (if  not  previously  tukeu 
out  witii  the  liver),  then  the  mesentery,  and,  finally, 
the  large  blood  vessels.  It  remains  now  to  open  the 
intestines;  or,  if  preferred,  they  may  remain  until 
everything-  else  is  finished.  The  small  intestine  is 
to  be  oi)ened,  as  in  human  autopsies,  by  an  incision 
running'  the  whole  length  at  the  mesenteric,  attach- 
ment. The  same  rule  applies  to  the  large  intestine, 
with  the  exception  of  the  double  colon,  which  is 
opened  along  the  outer  mai]^in  of  the  double  coil. 

We  next  proceed  to  examine  the  neck  and  head.  In 
examining'  the  neck  it  must  be  noted  that  in  horses 
what  are  known  as  the  gutturcd pouches  exist.  These 
l)ouches  are  dilatations  of  the  Eustachian  tubes; 
they  are  two  in  number,  one  on  either  side,  and  ex- 
tend from  the  inferior  face  of  the  atlas  to  the  anter- 
ior part  of  the  pharynx.  The  capacity  of  each  is 
about  three-fourths  of  a  pint;  but,  in  conseciuence  of 
the  extensibility  of  the  mucous  nu'mhraiie,  this  is 
very  variable.  The  pouches  are  situated  immediate- 
ly beneath  the  parotid  glands  and  sometimes  become 
filled  with  pus  and  press  upon  the  larynx,  interfer- 
ing with  respiration.  The  thyroid  gland  is  composed 
of  two  oval  lobes  situated  immediately  behind  the 
larynx,  beside  the  first  two  rings  of  the  trachea. 
These  lobes  appear  to  be  independent,  but  close  ex- 
amination shows  them  to  be   united  by  an  inter- 


VETKiaXAKY  rOf^T-IMUKTK-M  EXAX1>'ATI0>'S.      31 

mediate  portion,  the  isthmus,  \vluc-h  passes  across  the 
anterior  face  of  the  trachea.  They  shouUl  be  excised 
and  removed. 

The  jxt/'otid  (/la/uh  should  uext  be  removed  and  the 
guttwal 2>ouches  laid  open. 

The  toiifjue^  larytvx,  trachea,  phari//i,r,  cesophagus,  and 
subiaaxillary  glands  should  be  removed  en  masse.  Be- 
fore doing  this,  however,  Stensoii's  duct  should  be  ex- 
amined, as  it  is  sometimes  the  seat  of  calculi.  To 
remove  the  tongue,  cut  the  musciilar  attachments 
exteudiug  from  the  tongue  to  the  lower  jaw;  then 
divide  the  articulation  of  the  hyoid  bone  at  the  sty- 
loid coruaa.  This  is  easily  done  by  inserting  the 
hand  along  the  side  of  the  tongue  and  feeling  for  the 
flat  styloid  bone,  which  extends  along  the  side  of  the 
tongue  for  the  posterior  two-thirds.  By  placing  a 
knife  against  the  inner  surface  of  this  bone  and  cut- 
ting toward  oneself  the  knife  will  pass  through  the 
articulation  without  any  trouble.  Disarticulation 
having  been  accomplished,  the  knife  should  be 
placed  close  to  the  inner  sui*face  of  the  submaxillary 
bone;  then,  cutting  toward  the  pharynx,  divide  the 
muscular  attachments.  As  soon  as  the  muscular 
attachments  are  divided  far  enough  to  admit  of  it, 
take  hold  of  the  tip  of  the  tongue  and  pull  it  through 
the  submaxillary  space.  The  mass  can  thereby  be 
lifted  and  the  cutting  will  be  much  more  easily  done. 


32      VETERINARY  r0ST-M0RTE3I   EXAMINATIONS. 

The  section  should  be  made  deep  enough  to  include 
the  soft  palate  with  the  pharynx,  and  the  incisions 
may  now  be  carried  backward  close  to  the  vertebral 
column  so  as  to  remove  the  larynx,  trachea,  and 
a\sophagus  in  connection  with  the  tongue  and 
pharynx.  The  ceso2)hagus  and  pharynx  arc  to  be 
opened,  and  then  the  larynx  and  trachm. 

The  submaxillary  lymphatic  glands  must  be  examined 
and  any  enlargement  noted.  If  the  enlargement  be 
circumscribed  and  hard,  glanders  may  be  suspected. 
If,  on  the  other  hand,  there  is  general  swelling  of  the 
glands  under  the  jaw  witli  (edema  of  the  connective 
tissue,  and  especially  if  the  animal  be  young,  the 
condition  known  as  strangles  may  be  present. 

We  now  come  to  the  cranial  cavity.  This  cavity 
must  be  opened  with  the  least  possible  injury  to  the 
brain  itself  and.  to  the  cranial  bones.  To  take  out 
an  animal's  brain,  the  head  must  be  disarticulated 
from  the  body.  This  is  done  at  the  atlo-occipital 
articulation.  x\.  long-bladed  knife  is  necessary.  It 
is  better  to  place  a  block  under  the  pole  or  the  point 
of  the  occiput.  This  will  cause  the  head  to  point 
forward,  and  tend  to  make  tense  the  muscles.  The 
soft  i)arts  are  then  cut  through,  and  the  joint- 
ligaments  severed.  Place  the  head  on  the  table, 
resting  on  the  lower  jaw,  and  dissect  otf  the  temporal 
muscles.    With  a  saw  make  a  transverse  cut  through 


"TETERINAKY  POST-MORTEM  EXAMINATIONS.      B3 

the  frontal  au<l  parietal  ])onos,  on  a  line  about  two 
inches  above  the  upx)er  border  of  the  orbital  cavity 


FiQ.  7. — Skull  of  Horse,  showing  the  Liues  of  Incision  for  Removal  of  the 
Skull-cap.    Superior  view. 

(a,  in  Figs.  7,  8  and  9).  Lines  drawn  from  each  end 
of  this  transverse  cut  to  the  lower  border  of  the 
upper  third  of  the  occipital  foramen  will  indicate  the 
position  in  which  the  longitudinal  cuts  are  to  be 


34      A^ETERINARY  POST-MORTEM  EXAMINATIONS. 


Fig.  8— Skull  of  Hdi-se,  t^howing  the  Lines  of  Incision  for  Kumov;iI  of  the 
Skull  cap.    L:itoral  view 


TBTERINAEY  POST-MORTEM  EXAMINATIONS.      35 

made  (J,  in  Figs.  7,  8  and  9).  Care  must  be  used  in 
making  these  longitudinal  cuts  not  to  sa^Y  too  deep- 
ly over  the  parietal  portion,  as  the  bone  here  is  only 
one-eighth  to  one-fourth  of  an  inch  in  thickness, 
while  at  the  occiput  it  is  about  one  inch  thick. 

Having,  therefore,  saAvn  carefully  until,  by  want 
of  resistance,  we  know  that  the  i^arietcil  bones  have 
been  penetrated,  we  must  change  the  angle  of  the 


Fig.  9— Skull  of  Horse,  showing  the  Lines  of  Incision  for  Removal  of  the 
Skull-cup,   Infero-lateral  view. 


saw  so  as  to  go  through  the  occipital  bono.  We  can 
then,  by  using  a  little  judgment,  make  a  continuous 
cut  without  injury  to  the  brain.  Any  pieces  of  bone 
not  sawn  through  must  be  broken  with  the  chisel. 
Complete  section  of  the  skull-cax)  having  been  madej 
the  anterior  x)art  must  be  lifted  up,  the  dura  mater 
cut  through — if  it  is  adherent,  which  is  generally 
tlie  case  especially  in  old  horses — and  the  cap  i)ulled 


30      VETERINARY   ri)ST-3I0RTEM  EXAMINATIONS. 


uack.  In  horses  there  is  a  bony  i)latc  which  sepa- 
rates the  cerebrum  from  the  cerebellum — the  ten- 
torium cerebelli, — so  that  care  must  be  used  not  to 


Fia.  10— Head  of  Horse  with  Skull-cap  Removed. 


injure  the  brain  on  this  projection  when  pulling  the 
&kull-cap  off. 

The  skull-cap  having'  been  removed  (see  Fig.  10),  it 
should  be  examined  for  any  alteration  in  structure 


Vl^PERIXARV   rO:=iT-MORT5,M  EXAMi:!?Af lONS.      3t 

on  the  inner  surface ;  also  as  to  any  thickeninp;  of 
the  dura  mater.  The  general  condition  of  the  sur- 
face of  the  hrain  must  be  examined.  The  dura  mater, 
if  it  has  not  been  taken  off  with  the  skull-cap,  must 
now  be  divided  longitudinally  and  transversely. 
The  head  must  be  made  to  rest  upon  its  base  so  that 
the  brain  will  tend  to  fall  backward.  Insert  the 
third  and  fourth  fingers  of  the  left  hand  under  the 
anterior  part  and  gently  raise  the  brain;  divide  the 
olfactory  lobes  as  far  forward  as  possible.  These  lobes 
are  greatly  developed  in  horses,  and  are  hollow, 
communicating  directly  with  the  lateral  ventricles, 
differing  in  this  respect  from  the  human  olfactory 
lobes. 

These  lobes  having  been  divided,  the  nerves  at  the 
base  of  the  brain  must  be  severed  while  drawing  the 
brain  backward.  This  having  been  completed,  the 
brain  is  easily  removed  from  the  cavity. 

After  removal,  a  general  inspection  of  the  brain  is 
to  be  made.  The  average  weight  of  a  horse's  brain 
is  from  twenty-two  to  twenty-three  ounces.  When 
it  is  being  removed  from  the  cavity  the  condition  of 
the  blood-vessels  at  the  base  will  be  noticed;  also 
whether  there  are  any  adhesions  between  the  mem- 
branes or  not.  For  making  the  primary  section  cf  a 
brain,  it  is  well  to  use  a  sharp  kuife  with  a  thin, 
wide  blade. 


38      VETEIAN'ARY  ro.-^T-MOIiTl-nr  E^^AMI^J^AflOlfg. 

After  removal,  the  vcssc^ls  and  the  pia-araehnoid 
membrane  may  l)e  still  further  examined.  The  brain 
is  now  placed  upon  its  base,  the  cerebral  hemispheres 
drawn  apart  so  as  to  expose  the  corpus  callosum. 
An  incision  is  made  on  each  side,  at  the  junction  of 
the  corpus  callosum  and  the  convolutions,  into  the 
lateral  ventricle,  which  is  to  be  laid  ojien  along  its 
whole  extent.  Note  the  amount  and  character  of 
fluid  in  the  ventricles,  ami  the  presence  or  absence 
of  tumors  in  the  choroid  i)lexus.  One  or  more  long- 
itudinal incisions  can  now  be  made  in  an  oblique 
direction  outward  into  the  medullary  substance  of 
the  hemispheres  nearly  to  the  cortex.  After  divid- 
ing the  fornix,  a  series  of  transverse  sections  is  to 
be  made  from  before  backward  through  the  corpus 
striatum  and  optic  thalamus,  so  as  to  expose  all  parts 
of  the  basal  ganglia  and  the  internal  capsule.  A 
longitudinal  incision  is  to  be  made  through  the 
middle  lobe  of  the  cerebellum  down  to  the  fourth 
ventricle.  From  the  fourth  ventricle  a  median  in- 
cision, dividing  the  roof  of  this  ventricle  and  that  of 
the  aqueduct  of  Sylvius,  is  carried  into  the  third 
ventricle.  After  replacing  the  parts,  as  nearly  as 
possible  in  their  normal  positions,  the  brain  is 
turned  so  as  to  rest  on  its  convexity,  and  the  pia 
mater  is  detached,  from  the  interpeduncular  space 
and  from  the  pons  and  medulla  oblongata.    A  series 


VETERINARY  POST-MORTEM  EXAMINATIONS.      39 

of  transverse  incisions  should  now  be  made  through 
the  eriTra  cerebri,  the  pons  and  the  medulla  oblong- 
ata.   This  completes  the  dissection  of  the  brain. 

The  lower  jaw  must  now  be  removed.  It  remains 
to  expose  the  frontal  and  nasal  sinuses  by  dividing 
the  head  vertically  in  the  antero-posterior  xdi^ne. 
The  condition  of  the  mucous  membrane  of  the  nasal 
cavities  and  of  the  sinuses  must  be  noted. 

The  spinal  canal  may  be  examined  in  sections  of 
about  two  feet  in  length  and  the  cord  may  be  re- 
moved either  by  saAAing  through  the  laminiB  of  the 
vertebriE  and  removing  the  section  thus  made,  or  by 
sawing  obliquely  through  the  bodies  of  the  vertebra3 
from  below,  on  either  side,  being  guided  in  the  incis- 
ion by  the  articulation  of  ribs,  and  removing  the  in- 
cluded piece  of  bone.  By  the  latter  method  a  much 
thicker  piece  of  bone  has  to  be  sawn  through,  but 
there  is  the  advantage  of  having  less  muscle  to  re- 
move. Before  attempting  to  take  out  the  cord,  the 
fore  legs,  with  the  scapula,  must  be  removed  from 
the  body,  the  ribs  and  muscles  divided  about  six 
inches  from  the  vertebras  on  either  side,  and  the  ver- 
tebral column  sawn  through  just  in  front  of  the 
pelvis.  The  sections  are  then  to  be  made  and  the 
cord  removed  by  either  of  the  before-mentioned 
methods.  The  removal  of  the  cord  is  a  tedious  pro- 
cess and  one  seldom  necessar3\ 


40      VETERINARY  POST-MORTEM  EXAMINATION^. 

It  now  remains  to  examine  the  extronities.  This 
can  usually  be  done  by  general  inspection,  unless 
some  es])ecial  dissection  is  reipiired. 

The  ])oints  to  be  notii'cd  are  tlie  condition  of  the 
hoofs,  especially  in  tlie  foreleg:  First,  as  to  the  shape 
of  the  sole,  whether  it  is  normal  or  concave,  or 
whether  it  is  less  concave  than  normal — a  condition 
known  as  fiat-foot — or  whether  it  is  convex,  a  con- 
dition which  is  the  result  of  inflamation  with  conse- 
quent separation  of  the  horn  from  the  sensitive  parts 
beneath.  Any  abrasions  of  the  surface  must  be 
noted.  The  wall  must  be  examined  and  any  cracks 
or  seams,  especially  at  the  toe  or  on  the  quarters, 
noted;  as  must  also  be  tJie  presence  of  irregular 
rings  which  come  close  together  in  front.  Any  loss 
of  substance,  Avith  su])puration  of  the  parts  beneath,, 
should  be  noted.  IS^ext,  any  enlargement  and  hard- 
ening of  the  lateral  cartilage,  to  be  felt  just  above 
the  coronary  band  on  either  side,  are  to  be  noted; 
then  any  exostosis  at  or  near  the  articulation  of  the 
OS  coronie  and  os  suifraginis;  then  any  oxostosis  be- 
tween the  large  and  small  metacarpal  bones;  finally, 
any  alteration  above  this  ])art. 

In  the  hind  leg,  in  addition  to  the  above,  especial 
attention  should  be  given  to  the  hock  and  stifle. 
The  hock,  as  is  well  known,  is  often  the  seat  of  an 
exostosis  with,  sooner  or  later,  anchylosis,  designated 


VETERINARY  P0ST-M0RTE3I  EXAMINATIONS.      41 


as  a  spavin.     At  the  back  of  the  hock  there  is  also 
oftentimes  a  prominence  known  as  a  curb,  being  a 
thickening-  of  the  calcai^eo-cuboid  ligament. 
If  it  is  considered  necessary  to  examine  the  foot  in 


Fig.  11.— Cow;  with  Abdomen  Opened,    a.  Stomachs;  ft,  spleen; 
c,  diaphragm;  d,  intestines. 

particular,  the  hoof  must  be  removed,  an  operation 
TThich  is  rather  difficult  to  i^erform.  The  leg  should 
be  sawn  through  just  beloAv  the  fetlock,  placed  in  a 
vice,  and  sections  of  the  hoof  made  in  front  and 
through  the  sole  and,  if  necessary,  over  the  quarters. 
The  horn  must  tlien  be  loosened  at  the  top  by  di- 
viding it  from  the  coronarv  l)and.     Then    with    the 


42      VETERl^^ARY   TOSTOK  »iri]ni    EXAMINATIONS. 

blacksraitli's  tongs  the   horn   caa   usually  be  torn 
from  the  sensitive  parts  beneath. 

Differences  of  Prooedure  in  Animals  other 
TUAN  THE  Horse. — In  cattle^  while  the  intestines  are 


Fig.  12.— Stomachs  of  a  Cow.    A,  rumt^ir,  13,  roliculum;  C,  muasum; 
D,  abomatuiii. 


less  bulky  than  those  of  the  liorse,  tlie  stomachs  are 
far  more  voluminous  and  occupy  most  of  tbe 
abdominal  cavity.  It  is  best,  therefore,  to  remove  the 
stomachs  (together  with  the  spleen)_/?>s<  (see  Fig.  10). 
This  is  best  done  by  dividing  the  u'sopliagus,  i>ulling 


VETERINARY  POST-MORTEM  EXAMINATIONS."     43 

the  stomachs  out  as  much  as  x'O'Ssible  from  the 
cavity,  freeing  the  attachments  to  the  wall,  and  then 
dividing  the  duodenum  and  allowing  the  mass  to 
fall  to  the  floor. 

The  stomachs  iu  rumiuauts  (see  Fig.  11)  are  gen- 
erally spoken  of  as  four  iu  number — the  rumen,  reticu- 
lum, omasum,  and  ahomasum.     The    abomasum,   how- 
ever, is  the  only  one  which  has  digestive  functions. 
The  rumen,  the  first  of  the  stomachs,  occupies  three- 
fourths  of  the  abdominal  cavity.    Incomplete  septa 
divide  the  cavity  into  two  sacs,  the  riglit  and  the 
left.    The  mucous  surface  is  covered  with  papillary 
prolongations.    It  has  two  openings,    both   situated 
in  the  left  sac;   one  leads  to    the  oesophagus,   the 
other  to  the  reticulum  or   second  stomach.     An  in- 
cision made   iu  the   rumen  at  the  entrance  of  the 
oesophagus  is   carried  forward  to   the   end  of  the 
cavity,  and  a  continuation  of  the  incision  posteriorly 
along  the  lesser  curvature  of  the  reticulum  opens 
the  cesophageal  groove  and  enters  the  omasum  and 
the   posterior  \rdYt   of  the   reticulum.     An  incision 
through  the  floor   of   the   a:'sophageal   groove  and 
through  the  roof  of  the  second  stomach  upon  which 
this  groove  lies  continues  the  opening  of  the  reticu- 
lum.   The  omasum  and  abomasum  can  be  opened  by 
an  incision  carried  along  tlie  greater   curvature  of 
these  stomachs. 


44     VETERINARY  POST-MORTEM  EXAMINATIONS. 

Tlie7?a?zcrea«  in  cattle  lies  in  a  fold  of  the  mesentery, 
and  its  duct,  which  is  single,  emi)ties  into  the  intes- 
tine from  fourteen  to  sixteen  inches  beyond  the 
ductus  choledochus.  It  is  better,  therefore,  after 
oi)ening  the  duodenum  and  examining  the  common 
bile-duct,  to  -  remove  the  intestmes  together  with  the 
mesentery  and  including  the  pancreas.  The  intestines 
having  been  removed,  the  pancreas  should  be  freed 
from  its  attachments  and  excised.  The  mesentery 
should  then  be  dissected  off  and  the  intestines 
opened  at  the  place  corresponding  to  the  mesenteric 
attachment.  The  arrangement  of  the  intestine  is 
much  simpler  in  cattle  than  in  the  horse.  The 
caecum  is  without  bulges  or  longitudinal  bands;  one 
extremity  is  rounded  and  floats  freely  in  the  ab- 
dominal cavity,  while  the  other  is  continuous  with 
the  colon.  There  is  no  division  of  the  colon  into  the 
large  or  double  colon  and  the  small  or  floating  colon ; 
but  a  greater  part  of  it  is  turned  upon  itself  in  such 
a  way  as  to  make  several  spiral  convolutions,  con- 
tinuing from  the  last  convolution  in  a  straight  line 
to  the  rectum. 

The  procedure  for  opening  the  thorax  is  exactly 
like  that  followed  in  the  horse. 

The  brain  is  removed  somewhat  differently;  the 
frontal  bone  is  greatly  developed  at  the  expense  of 
the  parietal  and  occipital.     The  frontal  sinuses  are 


VETETilNARY  rOST-:\IORTEM   EXAMINATIONS.       4o 

enormously  developed  in  cattle  (see  Fig.  14.)  The 
liorus  must  be  sawn  off  at  the  base.  A  transverse 
cut  should  be  made  throusrh  the  skull  about  one  and 


Fig,  13.— Liues  of  lucisiou  Necessary  for  Removal  of  the  Sliull  cap 
ill  Cattle. 

one-half  inch  in  front  of  the  crest  situated  between 
the  horns,  and  the  cut  be  continued  in  an  oblique 
direction  backward  r.nd  downward  so  as  to  terminate 
at  the  occipital  foramen  (line  a,  Fig.  1 3).    Care  should 


k 


)      VKTERIMAKV    roST-MORTEM    KXAMINATIONS- 


bo  taken  to  avoid  iiijuiiiiij  tlio  brain.  After  remov- 
iwiX  tlic  l»ono  separated  by  this  incision,  the  posterior 
part  of  the  cerebrum  and  all  of  the  superior  surface 
of  the  cerebellum  and  pons  varolii,  with  the  medulla 


Fig.  14. — Head  of  Rnminant  with  Skull-cap  removed. 

oblongata,  will  be  exposed.  A  second  transverse 
cut  (/>,  Fig'.  13)  should  now  be  made  in  a  line  about  one- 
half  inch  above  the  ejes.  This  will  enter  the  cranial 
cavity  at  tlie  anterior  extremity  of  the  brain.  Two 
longitudinal  cuts  (o,  Fig.  13)  must  now  be  made,  one 
on  either  side,  at  about  one  and  one-half  inch  from 


Veterinary  post-mortem  examinations.    4? 

the  median  line.  Tlie  incisions  tliu.s  made  will  be 
c<)inj)leted  with  the  liamnier  and  chisel  and  the  i)late 
of  bone  lifted  off  (see  Fig.  14).  The  brain  will  then 
be  removed  as  in  the  horse. 

The  directions  laid  down  for  post-mortem  examin- 
ations of  cattle  will  apply  to  other  rnminants. 

In  do(/s,  ^)^r/.s,  cats,  rahbits,  etc.,  the  brain  is  removed 
as  in  the  horse.  In  all  of  these  animals  the  other 
organs  may  be  removed  in  the  same  order  as  in  man. 

In  the^>/f/ the  arrang'ement  of  the  intestine  bears 
some  resemblance  to  that  of  the  ox.  The  coils  of 
the  colon  throughout  the  greater  part  of  their  length 
are  intimately  adherent,  and  require  much  care  in 
dissecting  them  apart. 

In  carnivora  the  intestines  are  very  short.  The 
small  intestine,  susxjended  at  the  extremity  of  a 
mesentery  similar  to  that  of  solipeds,  rests  on  the  in- 
ferior abdominal  wall.  The  caecum  forms  only  a 
small,  spirally  twisted  appendix.  The  colon  is 
scarcely  larger  than  the  small  intestine,  and  is 
neither  sacculated  nor  furnished  with  longitudinal 
bands.  In  its  short  course  it  is  disposed  much  like 
the  same  intestine  in  man;  and,  as  in  him,  may  be 
divided  into  the  ascending,  transverse,  and  descend- 
ing colon,  which  is  continuous  with  the  rectum. 

FiELD-ArTOPSiES.— What  has  thus  far  been  written 
in  this  article  concerning  autopsj'  methods  is  upoii 


48     VETERINARY  POST-MORTEM  EXAMINATIONS. 

the  assumption  that  tlio  operator  has  suitable  ar- 
rangements at  Ins  disposal.  In  the  field  no  such 
conveniences  are  at  hand,  and  the  operator  has  to 
get  along  as  best  he  can.  Very  often,  moreover,  as 
the  time  at  his  disposal  will  not  allow  him  to  make  a 
thorough  examination  of  all  parts  of  the  animal,  he 
must  take  the  clinical  history  into  account  as  to 
which  organ  he  may  wish  to  examine  and  adopt 
methods  in  accordance  therewith.  If,  for  instance, 
the  animal  died  from  intestinal  trouble,  the  main 
part,  and  probably  all,  of  his  observations  will  be 
confined  to  the  abdominal  cavity.  It  is  very  much 
better  in  this  case  to  have  the  animal  upon  its  back. 
This  can  generally  be  done  if  a  stake  such  as  butch- 
ers use  can  be  found,  with  an  iron  point  at  each  end; 
one  end  can  be  struck  into  the  wall  of  the  thorax 
while  the  other  is  pushed  into  the  floor  or  ground. 
If  this  cannot  be  obtained,  blocks  Or  fence-rails  will 
answer  the  purpose  fairly  well.  They  must  be  placed 
on  either  side  of  the  body  as  far  underneath  as  pos- 
sible. The  pectoral  muscles  should  then  be  divided 
and  the  four  legs  allowed  to  lie  out  straight  upon 
the  ground.  The  adductors  of  the  thigh  will  then 
be  cut  across,  allowing  the  hind  legs  to  fall  outward. 
The  incisions  in  the  thorax  and  abdomen  will  then 
be  made  and  the  organs  removed  as  directed  above. 
Sometimes  circumstances  will  not  allow  the  oper- 


VETERINARY  POST-MORTEM   EXAMINATIONS.      49 

ator  to  place  the  auimal  upon  its  back,  in  which  case 
the  auimal  should  be  allowed  to  lie  upon  its  right 
side,  the  fore  and  the  hind  leg's  of  the  left  side  re- 
moved and  as  much  of  the  abdom  as  possible  cut 


Fig.  15.— Field-autopsy  on  a  Horse. 


away  (see  Fig.  15).  The  double  colon  should  then 
be  straightened  out  and  carried  forward.  The  small 
intestine  must  be  pulled  out  as  far  as  possible,  there- 
by putting  the  ligaments  which  attach  it  to  the 
vertebrae  upon  the  stretch.  The  rectum  should  be 
pulled  out  and  allowed  to  fall  over  the  back  and 


60     VETERINARY  POST-MORTEM  EXAMINATIONS. 

liip  (see  Fig.  15).  The  recto-duodenal  ligament  avIII 
then  be  exposed,  together  with  the  ui)i)er  part  of  the 
liver,  the  spleen,  stomach,  pancreas,  one  kidney,  and 
the  organs  in  the  i)elvic  cavity. 

The  intestines  must  be  removed  first,  as  in  the 
ordinary  manner.  The  thoracic  wall  on  the  upper 
side  can  be  removed  by  dividing  the  ribs  near  the 
sternum,  cutting  the  intercostal  muscles  from  the 
sternum  to  the  vertebrte.,  and  forcing  each  rib  up-' 
ward  and  then  backward,  thereby  loosening  the 
costo-vertebral  articulations  (see  Fig.  15).  The 
organs  in  the  thorax  and  those  remaining  in  the  ab- 
domen can  now  be  removed  and  examined  iu  the 
usual  way. 

If  the  animal  died  of  pulmonary  disease,  and  it  is 
desired  to  see  the  thoracic  organs  only,  the  operation 
is  comparatively  simple.  The  fore  leg  should  be 
removed,  and  the  intercostal  muscles  divided  the 
whole  length  of  the  ribs;  the  ribs  are  then  divided 
with  the  costatome  or  saw,  near  the  sternum.  Each 
rib  is  then  removed  separately,  as  directed  above. 

The  heart  and  lungs  can  be  removed  together,  or 
the  top  lung  may  be  first  removed  at  its  base,  then 
the  pericardium  opened  and  the  heart-incisions  made, 
and  the  organ  removed.  The  lower  lung  may  then 
be  removed,  and  with  it  the  bronchial  lymph-glands. 
For  the  smaller  animals  no  especial  modification  is 


VETERINARY    TOt^T-MORTEM    EXAMINATIONS.       51 

necessary.  The  modifications  here  described  shonld 
never  he  used  unless  the  circumstances  are  such 
that  this  method  is  unavoidable.  It  is  too  common 
a  practice  among  veterinarians  to  depend  upon  the 
clinical  history  in  determining-  just  how  far  it  is 
necesssary  to  carry  the  post-mortem  examination. 
It  is  always  better  to  complete  the  examination, 
even  if  it  has  to  be  done  roughly.  Were  all  autop- 
sies made  for  the  sole  purpose  of  verifying  the 
ante-mortem  diagnosis  very  little  advance  in  path- 
ology would  be  made. 

Eecords  of  Autopsies. — The  results  of  the  post- 
mortem examinations  should  be  recorded.  When  it 
is  possible,  it  is  best  to  dictate  to  an  assistant  the 
descriiition  of  the  various  api)earances  as  the  autop- 
sy x^roceeds.  When  this  is  not  practicable,  the  pro- 
tocol of  the  autopsy  should  be  written  as  soon  as 
possible  after  completing  the  examination,  while  the 
results  are  fresh  in  one's  mind. 

The  description  of  the  i)ost-mortem  appeaittnces 
should  be  objective.  It  is  not  suflBcient  simply  to 
say  that  such  or  such  disease  is  found,  but  the 
changes  in  consistence,  color,  size,  and  shape, 
which  the  diseased  part  presents  should  be  objec- 
tively described. 

The  appearance  of  each  organ  examined,  whether 
it  is  diseased  or  not,  should  be  noted  in  the  proto- 


52     VETERINARY  POST-MORTEM  EXAMINATIONS. 

col. 

The  following  protocols  of  autopsies  recently 
made  by  the  writer  are  introduced  to  illustrate  the 
method  of  recording  post-mortem  examinations. 
These  autopsies  are  also  of  considerable  interest  in 
themselves. 

Case  1.  Horse:  Riipticre  of  the  Stomach  and  of  the 
Diaphragm^  Chronic  Peritonitis'  Alveolar  /Sarcoma  of 
the  JPeritoueicm. — The  subject  is  a  gray  gelding,  about 
twenty  years  of  age ;  weight,  about  one  thousand 
and  fifty  pounds;  in  good  condition;  abdomen  some- 
what distended.  There  are  no  abrasions  of  the 
skin,  save  slight  ones  made  by  the  friction  of  the 
harness.  There  is  a  swelling  on  each  hind  leg  over 
the  OS  suifraginis. 

The  mucous  membrane  of  the  nostrils  is  of  a  pur- 
plish color;  that  of  the  mouth  and  eyes,  rather  pale. 

Ill  the  middle  of  the  neck  there  is  a  slight  thicken- 
ing of  the  skin  over  the  jugular  vein  on  the  left  side. 
Upon  r(;moval  of  the  skin  a  distinct  dilatation  of  the 
vein,  about  the  size  of  the  end  of  a  man's  thumb,  is 
seen.  The  wall  of  the  vessel  here  is  much  thinner 
than  that  of  the  adjoining  part  of  tlie  vein. 

The  swelling  in  the  hind  legs  is  found  to  be  of  a 
bony  nature,  but  the  joint  is  not  involved. 

The  abdomen  having  been  opened  by  the  longitu- 
dinal and  transverse  incisions  and  the   flaps  laid 


VETERINARY  POST-MORTEIM  EXAMINATIONS.      53 

back,  the  exposed  peritoneum,  especially  the  part 
covering  the  diaphragm  and  that  extending  back 
over  the  inferior  wall,  is  found  to  be  covered  with  a 
thin  layer  of  connective  tissue,  which  is  detached 
with  difficulty  and  leaves  a  ragged  surface.  The 
cavity  contains  a  large  amount  of  bloody  fluid.  Xear 
the  extremity  of  the  caecum,  covering  an  area  about 
the  size  of  the  surface  of  a  man's  two  hands,  is  a 
layer  of  connective  tissue,  which  is  removed  with 
difficulty  and  leaves  a  ragged  surface.  A  little 
nearer  the  extremity  of  the   cjiecum  is   a  tumor   six 

.  inches  long  by  four  inches  in  width  and  three  inches 
in  thickness,  uniformly  white  in  color  and  lobulated 

,,j  in  appearance.  This  mass  is  firmly  attached  to  the 
caicum  and  to  the  diaphragm  by  new  tissue.  Other- 
.\j'ise,  the  layer  of  i)eritoneum  covering  the  intestine 

.  .i:|.$>tuooth  and  glistening. 

The  colon  having  been  straightened  out  and, 
with  the  ctecum,  allowed  to  fall  out  of  the  cavity,  the 
small  intestine  is  seen  to  be  in  part  protruding 
through  a  hole  in  the  diaphragm  into  the  thoracic 
cavity.  The  intestines  having  been  placed  in  posi- 
tion for  dissection,  the  rupture  in  the  diaphragm 
is  seen  to  be  about  eight  inches  in  length,  extend- 
ing transversely  through  the  muscle  and  situated  in 
the. epigastric  and  left  hypochondriac  regions.  The 
edges  of  the  rux^ture  are  quite  smooth.    The  spleen 


54      VETERINARY  POST-MORTEM  EXAMINATIONS. 

is  partly  pushed  tlirough  this  hole,  as  is  also  a  part 
of  tlie  stomach.  On  iuserting  tlie  hand  into  the 
pleural  cavity  through  the  rent  in  the  diaphragm, 
this  cavity  is  found  to  contain  a  large  amount  of 
bloody  fluid  mixed  with  partially  digested  food. 

The  intestines  having  been  removed  and  opened 
the  mucous  membrane  is  seen  to  ha  re  a  slightly 
yellowish  tint. 

Oji  opening  the  thorax  the  pleural  cavity  is  found 
to  contain  at  least  eight  to  ten  gallons  of  blood- 
colored  fluid  mixed  with  a  large  quantity  of  parti- 
ally digested  food.  The  lungs  are  retracted  so  as 
to  expose  nearly  the  whole  of  the  pericardium. 
There  are  no  adhesions  to  be  felt.  The  surface  of  the 
pericardium  is  smooth  and  glistening,  as  is  also  that 
of  the  epicardiiim,  but  beneath  the  latter  are  many 
points  of  ecchymoses  on  either  side  of  the  anterior 
ventricular  groove. 

The  heart  having  been  removed  and  dissected,  the 
endocardium  is  found  to  be  smooth  and  glistening; 
the  heart-muscle  reddish  brown  in  appearance,  and 
firm. 

The  costal  and  i)ulmonary  i)leurje  are  smooth  and 
glistening;  the  lungs,  light  pink  in  color.  On  pass- 
ing the  hand  over  the  surface  of  the  lungs,  solid  no- 
dules can  be  distinctly  felt  in  the  interior  of  the 
lung  substance,  which  are,  on  an  average,  about  the 


VETERINARY  P0ST-M0RTE3I  EXAMINATIONS.      55 

size  of  a  pea.  Tlie.se  nodules  are  few  in  number  and 
scattered;  otherwise  the  lungs  crepitate  throughout. 
On  section  most  of  these  nodules  have  a  yellowish- 
white  ai)pearance,  with  a  small,  oi)aque,  ai^parent- 
ly  caseous  centre.  The  rest  of  the  section  shows 
the  lung-substance  of  normal  pink  color.  The  large 
bronchial  tubes  contain  a  considerable  amount  of 
mucus. 

The  spleen,  together  with  the  fold  of  omentum 
covering  the  stomach,  having  been  removed,  it  is 
examined  and  found  to  be  of  normal  size,  the  caj)- 
sule  smooth  and  glistening,  the  substance  on  section 
dark  red.  The  diaphragm  is  now  cut  away  from  its 
attachment  to  the  ribs,  so  as  to  allow  it,  with  the 
liver,  to  fall  forward  into  tlie  thoracic  cavity.  A 
rujiture  about  six  inches  long  is  seen  along  the 
greater  curvature  of  the  stomach.  The  cavity  of  the 
stomach  is  nearly  empty,  and  the  rupture  is  seen  to 
be  confined  to  the  pyloric  or  true  digestive  portion. 
The  edges  of  the  rent  are  smooth,  and  the  wall  is 
scarcely  more  than  one-eighth  of  an  inch  thick.  On 
removing  and  oldening  the  stomach  and  duodenum, 
the  mucous  membrane  is  normal  in  ai)pearance. 

The  sui)rarenal  capsules  are  studded  on  their  sur- 
face with  hard  yellowish  masses,  on  an  average 
about  the  size  of  the  head  of  a  pin.  These  little 
masses  are  yellowish  throughout  and  do  not  i)roject 


56     VETERINARY  TOST-MORTEM  EXAMINATIONS. 

miicli  into  the  substance  of  the  oigau.  There  are 
none  of  these  masses  in  the  interior  of  the 
capsules. 

The  capsule  covering  the  kidneys  is  smooth  and 
glistening,  and  easily  removed  from  the  substance 
of  the  kidney.  On  section  the  striie  are  distinct; 
the  cortex,  of  normal  thickness  and  color. 

The  liver  is  of  normal  appearance.  The  capsule 
is  smooth  and  glistening,  and  the  substance,  as  seen 
through  the  capsule,  dark  brown,  while  on  section 
the  surface  exposed  presents  a  lighter  brown  ap- 
pearance and  the  lobules  are  distinct. 

There  is  a  verminous  aneurism,  the  size  of  an  En- 
glish walnut,  of  the  anterior  mesenteric  artery.  The 
aneurismal  sac  is  filled  with  a  firm  reddish-gray  clot 
containing  numerous  strongyles.  The  muscular 
tissue  of  the  wall  of  the  artery  on  the  central  side  is 
hypertrophied  so  that  it  measures  oue-(iuarter  of  an 
inch  in  the  thickest  part. 

The  dura  mater  is  firmly  adherent  to  the  skull; 
the  pia  mater,  smooth  and  glistening.  The  sub- 
stance of  the  brain  is  firm  and  t)f  a  faint  yellow 
color.  On  section  the  gray  and  white  matter  are  of 
nornjal  appearance. 

The  spinal  cord  was  iu>t  examined. 

The  nasal  mucous  membrane  is  free  from  ulcera- 
tions and  presents  no  abnormalities,  except  a  cyan- 


VETERINAKY  rOST-MORTEM  EXAMINATIONS.      57 

otic  hue. 

Microscopic  Examination. — The  nodules  in  the 
lungs  show,  on  sectiofi,  a  centre  of  cells  which  have 
undergone  coagulation-necrosis  and  which  do  not 
stain,  while  around  the  edge  of  this  necrotic  centre 
is  a  mass  of  lymphoid  cells  which  stain  well. 
Axound  this  area  of  lymphoid  cells  is  a  portion  where 
the"  lung-substance  is  completely  replaced  by  con- 
nective tissue.  Around  the  nodules  is  an  area  where 
the  air-cells  are  completely  or  partially  filled  with 
epithelial  cells  and  fibrine. 

The  tumor  which  is  described  above  shows,  on 
microscopic  examination,  a  basement  of  connective 
tissue  rich  in  cells  enclosing  alveoli  in  which  are 
contained  some  spindle-shaped  and  man}'  round 
cells.  Cells  similar  to  those  in  the  alveoli  are  also 
found  scattered  in  the  stroma  (alveolar  sarcoma). 

The  nodules  on  the  surface  of  the  suprarenal  cap- 
sules show,  on  examination  of  that  organ,  a  struct- 
ure identical  with  that  of  the  rest  of  the  organ,  from 
which  they  are  sei:)arated  by  a  band  of  connective 
tissue.  They  are  therefore  partially  detached  j)or- 
tions  of  the  gland. 

The  clinical  history  of  this  case,  as  far  as  it  could 
be  obtained,  is  as  follows:  The  horse  began  to  show 
symptoms  of  sickness  about  11  A,  M.  He  stopped 
frequently  and  tried  to  lie  down.    The  owner  finally 


58     VETERINARY  POST-MORTEM  EXAMINATIONS. 

got  liiin  lionic  and  ])iit  liiiii  in  a  lield.  \lo\v  the 
liorsc  rolli'd  about  a  good  deal.  The  owner  wont  to 
dinner,  and  Avlieu  he  returned  the  horse  was  dead. 
It  was  two  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  when  t)ie  horse 
arrived  at  the  knackery,  and,  happening  to  bo  there 
at  the  time,  I  made  tlie  autopsy  immediately. 

From  the  short  duration  of  the  illness,  taken  to- 
gether with  the  age  of  the  horse  and  the  ap})ar«nt 
atrophy  of  the  wall  of  the  stomacli,  together  with 
the  bloody  appearance  of  the  II uid  in  the  abdomen 
and,  in  consequence  of  the  rent  in  the  diaphragm,  in 
the  pleural  cavity  also,  I  am  led  to  believe  that  the 
rupture  in  the  stomach  was  ante-mortem,  causing 
death  by  shock. 

Case  11.  Horse:  Chronic  Glanders. — This  animal, 
a  bay  gelding  in  poor  condition,  of  about  <Mie  thous- 
and pounds  weight  and  about  fifteen  years  of  age, 
was  destroyed  for  the  above  disease.  lie  was  killed 
by  bleeding. 

The  external  lesions  are  as  follows  :  There  is  a 
thick  muco-purulent  discliarge  from  botli  nostrils; 
the  mucous  membrane  of  the  nostrils  is  pale  where 
it  is  not  ulcerated.  On  l)otli  sides  of  tlie  septum 
nasi  is  a  large  red  patcli  covering  lu^uly  all  that 
can  be  seen  of  tlie  septum.  The  mucous  membrane 
is  ulcerated  over  this  area  and  is  ragged  at  the 
edges.    There  is  considerable  loss  of  substance,  ap- 


VETERIKAEY  rOST-^IOETEM  EXAMINATIONS.      50 

parently,  of  the  cartilage,  as  evidenced  by  the  de- 
pression on  the  surface.  There  are  several  smaller 
ulcers  to  be  seen  in  the  nostril,  and  a  few  tubercles, 
which  are  raised  from  the  surface,  red  on  the  edge, 
and  yellowish  white  in  the  centre. 

The  submaxillary  glands  are  enlarged,  hard,  not 
adherent  to  the  bone.  On  the  left  side  of  the  neck, 
at  about  the  lower  third,  is  an  enlargement  about 
the  size  of  a  pea;  movable  with  the  skin,  but  which 
does  not  discharge  pus  when  squeezed.  Similar  no- 
dules ane  scattered  over  the  body,  some  of  which 
discharge  a  thick  yellow  j)us  on  squeezing  them, 
while  others  have  already  rui)tured,  leaving  ulcers. 

Upon  removal  of  the  skin,  the  glands  in  the  axilla 
and  in  the  inguinal  region  on  the  left  side  are  seen 
to  be  enlarged;  those  in  the  axilla  considerably, 
those  in  the  inguinal  region  less  so. 

The  x^eritoneal  cavity  contains  about  one  quart  of 
amber-colored  fluid;  the  peritoneum  is  smooth  and 
glistening  The  intestine,  as  seen  in  situ,  is  of  nor- 
mal steel-gray  color.  The  lymphatic  glands  in  the 
mesentery  are  enlarged,  some  of  them  to  the  size  of 
a  walnut ;  the  larger  ones  are  soft. 

There  are  no  adhesions  to  be  felt  between  the 
pleuric. 

The  pericardial  sac  contains  about  a  teacupful  of 
clear,    straw-colored   fluid.      The    pericardium     is 


()()      VETERINARY   rOST-MORTE:M   EXAMINATIONS. 

sraootli  aiul  f^listeniiiii-,  ns  are  also  the  epicardiiira 
aud  tlie  eudocardiuin.  The  heart-muscle  on  section 
shows  a  light-brown  color,  and  is  firn). 

The  lower  third  of  tlie  left  luni;-  is  solid,  and  on 
section  shows  hepatized  parenchyma  of  uniform 
dark-red  color,  with  considerable  interlobular  exu- 
dation near  the  pleura.  The  ideura  is  smooth  and 
glistening  over  the  whole  of  both  lungs.  Through- 
out both  lungs,  other  than  the  portion  which  is  uni- 
formly solidified,  arc  hard  nodules,  varying  in  size 
from  the  head  of  i)in  to  a  pea,  which  can  be  distinct- 
ly felt  on  passing  the  hand  over  the  lungs.  On  sec- 
tion some  of  these  nodules  show  a  red  edge  with  a 
yellowish-white  centre — in  some  cases  caseous,  in 
others  calcareous;  others  of  these  nodules  are  red 
throughout.  Most  of  them  shell  out  easily.  Those 
which  are  broken  down  in  the  centre  have  a  smooth 
wall.     The  harder  ones  shell  out  en  masse. 

The  spleen  is  greatly  enlarged,  measuring  ten 
inches  in  its  widest  part,  twenty-four  inches  in 
length,  and  in  places  three  inches  in  thickness. 
The  cai)sule  is  smooth  and  glistening.  On  section 
the  spleen-pulp  is  of  dark-red  color  and  normal  con- 
sistence. The  Malpighian  cori)uscles  are  plainly 
visible.  There  is  apparently'  considerable  increase 
of  the  connective  tissue 

Til  ere  are  a  few  uodules  the  size  of  a  pin-head  on 


VETERINARY  POST-MORTEM  EXAMINATIONS.      61 

the  surface  of  the  left  suprarenal  capsule,  aud  more 
ou  the  surface  of  the  right  suiirarenal  ca^isule. 
These  nodules  are  yellowish  in  color  and  firm.  They 
do  not  project  far  into  the  capsule,  which  is  of  nor- 
mal dark-brown  color  in  the  cortex  and  of  yellow 
color  in  the  medullary  jjortion. 

The  kidneys  are  firm.  The  caijsule  covering  them 
is  smooth  aud  glistening-.  On  section  the  cortical 
striation  is  coarse ;  the  glomeruli  are  very  plainly 
visible. 

The  capsule  covering  the  liver  is  smooth  and 
glistening.  The  substance  of  the  liver  shows,  on 
section,  normal  brown  color.  There  are  three  small, 
opaque  white  nodules  in  the  interior  of  the  organ, 
which  are  calcareous  in  the  centre. 

The  bladder  is  normal. 

There  is  a  verminous  aneurism,  the  size  of  a  hen's 
egg,  of  the  anterior  mesenteric  artery.  The  aneu- 
rismal  sac  is  nearly  filled  with  a  moist  reddish  clot 
containing  numerous  strongyles. 

The  brain  is  of  firm  consistency.  The  dura  mater 
is  firmly  adherent  to  the  skull.  The  ina  mater  is 
smooth  and  glistening.  On  section  the  brain-sub- 
stance shows  the  gray  and  white  matter  normal  in 
apx)earance. 

The  mucous  membrane  of  both  nostrils  is  i^retty 
well  covered  with  ulcers  and   tubercles.     This   con- 


62     VETERINARY  POST-MORTEM  EXAMINATIONS. 


'Se- 


dition extends  as  far  back  as  the  larynx. 
i  Case  III,  Cow :  Acute  Contagious  Pleuro-imeu- 
monia.— An  Alderney  cow,  six  years  of  age,  of  about 
seven  hundred  pounds  weight,  in  fair  condition,  died 
with  symptoms  of  tlie  above  disease.  The  autopsy 
was  made  six  hours  after  death. 

There  are  no  external  lesions.  The  visible  mu- 
cous membranes  are  pale ;  the  abdomen  is  slightly 
distended.  The  peritoneum  covering  the  walls  of 
the  abdominal  cavity  is  smooth  and  glistening,  as  is 
also  that  covering  the  stomach  and  intestines.  The 
capsule  covering  the  spleen  is  smooth  and  glisten- 
ing. This  organ  has  its  normal  gray  appearance,  as 
seen  through  the  capsule.  On  section  it  is  firm  and 
of  normal  brown-red  color.  \^^x- 

I  The  stomachs  are  of  normal  color,  and  on  section 
the  mucous  membrane  is  found  to  be  normal. 
j  The  pleural  cavity  of  the  right  side  contains  two 
,  or  three  gallons  of  clear  serum  mixed  with  Hakes  of 
lymph.  There  are  no  adhesions,  but  the  pleura  of 
the  right  side  is  covered  with  fresh  exudation. 

The  pericardial  sac  contains  about  a  teacui)ful 
of  clear  fluid.  The  inner  surface  of  the  pericardium 
and  the  epicardium  are  smooth  and  glistening.  The 
heart-muscle  is  reddish  brown  in  color.  The  endo- 
cardium is  smooth  and  glistening. 

The  exudate  covering  the  pleura  of  the  right  lung 


VETERINARY  TOST-MOKTEM  EXAMINATIONS.      63 

is  about  one  iucli  iu  thickness,  and  is  mixed  with 
serum. 

The  right  lung,  throughout  nearly  its  -whole  ex- 
tent, is  solid,  greatly  increased  iu  size,  and  weighs 
forty-five  pounds.  On  section  clear  serum  follows 
the  knife.  The  hepatized  parenchyma  varies  in  col- 
or from  a  very  bright  red  to  almost  a  black.  The 
interlobular  tissue  is  filled  in  most  places  with  co- 
agulated lymph,  giving  it  a  white  appearance.  In 
inaces,  esiJecially  near  the  base  of  the  lung,  the  in- 
terlobular substance  is  quite  firm,  giving  it  the  ap- 
pearance of  increased  connective  tissue.  In  this 
area  there  is  also  an  increased  amount  of  gra}*isii 
connective  tissue  around  the  bronchus  in  the  centre 
of  each  lobule.  The  blood-vessels,  in  the  region 
where  the  consolidated  lung  is  blackish  red,  are 
plugged.  The  bronchial  mucous  membrane  in  the 
larger  bronchi  is  clear. 

There  is  considerable  yellowish- white  exudate  in 
the  superior  mediastinum,  surrounding  the  large 
blood-vessels,  the  cesophagus,  and  the  IjTnphatic 
glands. 

The  mediastinal  lymphatic  glands  are  enlarged, 
oedematous,  and  on  section  show  small  yellowish- 
AXhite  opaque  areas,  having  an  appearance  similar  to 
the  exudate  in  the  interlobular  tissue. 

The  left  lung  is  normal,  and  weighs  six  pounds. 


64     VETERINARY  rOST-3IORTEM   EXAMINATIONS 

The  i)aiicroas  is  of  norratil  size  and  consistence, 
and  ])ale  yellow  in  color. 

The  intestines  are  of  normal  color,  and  the  mu- 
cons  membrane  is  normal. 

The  suprarenal  capsules  are  of  normal  size  and 
consisten(;e,  brown  in  color,  and  on  section  brown  in 
the  cortex  and  yellow  in  the  medullary  portion. 

The  kidneys  are  firm  and  of  normal  size,  and  the 
capsule  is  smooth  and  easily  pulled  off.  On  section 
the  stride  are  a  little  cloudy  in  aijpearance. 

The  bladder  is  of  normal  size  and  color.  It  is 
about  half-full  of  clear,  amber-colored  urine. 


,1' 


(K 


